Nicholas Holgate said the communities and local government secretary had "required the leader of the council to seek my resignation".

He added he would have been a "distraction" if he had stayed in his post after the "heart-breaking tragedy".

The prime minister said it was right he had stepped down as "for too long residents have been overlooked and ignored".

Theresa May addresses the Commons over Grenfell today. Credit: PA

Mrs May today declined to give the Conservative council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown her backing when asked if he should also step down.

"That is a matter that will be considered by the appropriate group on Kensington and Chelsea council," she replied.

The Prime Minister added a public inquiry had been set up, which will be chaired by a judge, to find out who is responsible and provide justice for the families.

"No stone will be left unturned in this inquiry, and for any guilty parties there will be nowhere to hide."

The local community is demanding justice for what happened at Grenfell Tower. Credit: AP

She further promised residents they would be re-homed within three weeks and that they would be looked after "irrespective of their immigration status".

"I would like to reassure people that we will not use this tragic incident as reason to carry out immigration checks on those involved, or on those providing vital information to help identify victims."

Mrs May told the Commons that more than 150 suitable homes had now been identified and were being checked in preparation for Grenfell survivors moving in over the summer.

"Nobody will be forced to move somewhere they don't want to go," she added.

Jeremy Corbyn said the Grenfell victims deserved answers. Credit: House of Commons

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Grenfell residents were "let down both in the immediate aftermath and so cruelly beforehand".

He said the public inquiry "must establish the extent and by who".

"At least 79 people are dead - it is both a tragedy and an outrage because every single one of those deaths could and should have been avoided".

Prior to the tragedy, Mr Corbyn said Grenfell residents had raised concerns about the safety in the block and believed only a "catastrophic event" would spur the council into doing anything about it.